HC orders further probe in 2002 Viramgam riot case

“Without giving elaborate reasons,suffice it to record that I am of the opinion that on certain aspects and in particular question of availability of other eye-witnesses,further investigation should be called for,” Justice Kureshi observed in his order.

“The assertion of petitioner that there were other eye-witnesses of the incident needs a closer examination. If there were other persons,as is likely to be,whose testimony throws some light in the manner in which incident took place,such angle should be probed further,” he added.

The petitioner in the case,Doshmohammed Bhatti,who is also one of the witnesses,had contended that though there were several eye-witnesses of the incident,police recorded statement of only one of them.

According to case details,the police had lodged FIR into the incidents three days after it took place.

The local police investigated into the case and filed a chargesheet in a sessions court against 10 persons. The trial began in 2006.

In January this year,Bhatti filed an application in the sessions court demanding further investigation in the case.

However,Bhatti’s application was rejected by the sessions judge after which Bhatti approached the HC.